Jeffersonville seeks April 30 Big 4 ramp opening

From left, Christa Jewsbury of Louisville, Sarah Butler of Jeffersonville, Ind., and Hollie Vaught of Lanesville, Ind., run on the ramp to the Big Four Bridge in Louisville. The bridge opened for pedestrian use one year ago in February. Feb. 19, 2014.(Photo: Jessica Ebelhar/The Courier-Journal)Buy Photo

Jeffersonville city leaders have asked the Indiana Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration if the city can install temporary lights in hopes of partially opening the Big Four walking and cycling ramp in time for the April 30 Great Steamboat Race.

But state transportation officials said Jeffersonville does not necessarily need the state’s permission as long as everything is done within state and federal regulations.

Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore said Thursday that state officials seem receptive to the idea but there’s no written agreement.

“Everything is verbal right now,” Moore said. “I’ve had some good conversations with the state and federal highways. I’m doing the best I can to get this ramp open.”

The ramp opening has been pushed back a year following multiple delays, including revising the initial lighting plan to include lights inside the handrails after nearby residents complained that lighting similar to that in Louisville would be obtrusive.

The new plan required awarding a separate lighting contract. Workers are expected to finish the last of the work in mid-May, installing custom-made, lighted handrails that will be attached to the ramp railings.

Moore said Thursday his goal is to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Fischer and other area officials on April 30.

State officials have said the handrails are required to meet disability standards because $8 million in federal transportation money was budgeted, along with $2 million in Jeffersonville redevelopment money.

The Louisville side opened in February 2013 and since electronic counters were installed at the foot of the ramp, more than 500,000 pedestrians and 75,000 bicyclists have flocked to the bridge.

Waterfront Park in Louisville is open until 11 p.m., meaning the ramp would need to be illuminated for those crossing at night.

Moore said a special meeting of the city’s Redevelopment Commission would be needed to allocate an estimated $20,000 for the lights.

“It’s a drop in the bucket compared to what businesses on the Indiana side will be generating once it opens,” Moore said, adding the project is within its $10 million budget.

The question, according to INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield, is whether it’s possible to install temporary lighting and safely complete installation of the permanent lighted handrail with foot and bicycle traffic on the ramp.

Wingfield said in an email Thursday afternoon the 19-foot-wide ramp would need to be subdivided. If this is possible, then the contractor would submit a price proposal to the city for consideration.

“It would not be safe to open the Jeffersonville Big Four Ramp today. There is a gap in the railing where the ramp meets the bridge that still needs to be addressed.

“Until such time that the city and contractor finalize alternate arrangements, the current schedule is for the Jeffersonville Big Four Ramp to open before the U.S. 31 Clark Memorial Bridge closes to bike and pedestrian traffic in late May,” Wingfield said.

Reporter Charlie White can be reached at (812) 949-4026 and on Twitter @c_write.